Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. The Minister is correct that it is absolutely important we protect small building subcontractors who have been denied payment from larger companies. The basic tenet of this Bill is that we must protect the small person. As the Minister knows from his work with the Office of Public Works and through his constituency work, many of the people in question - subcontractors - are struggling, their income is decimated and, as they are self-employed, they do not have the option to go to social welfare. In many cases, they are beaten for work because the tendering process is not fair or transparent. They also have problems with bank lending.

It is important we protect the people at the very heart of the construction sector - the small building subcontractor. It is also important this Bill is progressed and we get a positive outcome. I commend the Minister and Senator Quinn on the work they have done on it. Over recent weeks I have met many subcontractors and their representatives in Cork through Mick O'Brien. They have impressed upon me the urgency of this legislation to assist them in ensuring they are paid. This Bill goes a long way towards that.

As Deputy Conlan said, many subcontractors have been treated shamefully and reprehensibly. This has an effect on their personal morale and esteem, as well as their family life. It also affects the economy because many provided employment, but because they were not paid properly, they have had to lay workers off, which in turn means less of a contribution to the Exchequer. This legislation is a new start. The Government is committed to introducing new legislation to protect our small building contractors. If the Minister does nothing else in his term of office, this legislation will ensure he left a positive legacy to the construction industry and ensured the small subcontractor cannot be denied payment. This is an important Bill which must be progressed quickly. This is a great step forward for ordinary subcontractors who are the lifeblood of our economy.

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